Rolling toy hoop

ABSTRACT

A toy device wherein a hoop can be rolled and steered along the ground by a cord which is attached to one end of a manually held guide rod. The cord is connected to a coupling ring which is received in one or more transversely extending recesses of the hoop so as to be turnable on but to be held against movement in the circumferential direction of the hoop. By exerting a pull on the cord while the coupling ring travels upwardly and away from the ground, the user can impart to the hoop a driving momentum to thereby accelerate the hoop. The hoop will travel along an arcuate path if the coupling ring is turned to move its point of connection with the cord to the one or the other side of the hoop while the coupling ring is located at the uppermost point of the hoop and if the cord is swung sideways to tilt the hoop.

United States Patent [191 Berner ROLLING TOY HOOP [76] Inventor: TheodorBerner,

Ludwig-Blum-Strasse 2, D-7000 Stuttgart, 60 (Wangen), Germany [22]Filed: Mar. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 338,510

[52] US. Cl. 46/220, 46/114 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/02 [58] Field of Search46/47, 114, 220

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,895,216 l/1933 Thalmann46/114 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 818,879 6/1937 France 46/47Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida Assistant Examiner-Robert F. CuttingAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [451 July 16,1974

[5 7] ABSTRACT A toy device wherein a hoop can be rolled and steeredalong the ground by a cord which is attached to one end of a manuallyheld guide rod. The cord is connected to a coupling ring which isreceived in one or more transversely extending recesses of the hoop soas to be tumable on but to be held against movement in thecircumferential direction of the hoop. By exerting a pull on the cordwhile the coupling ring travels upwardly and away from the ground, theuser can impart to the hoop a driving momentum to thereby accelerate thehoop. The hoop will travel along an arcuate path if the coupling ring isturned to move its point of connection with the cord to the one or theother side of the hoop while the coupling ring is located at theuppermost point of the hoop and if the cord is swung sideways to tiltthe hoop.

, 11.21am 9 DrawinsFiaures 1 ROLLING TOY HOOP BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to toy devices in general, andmore particularly to improvements in a hoop which can be rolled alongthe ground and caused to change the direction of its movement by acombined steering and driving device, preferably a device employing acord, a string or an analogous elongated flexible member.

It is already known to connect a hoop with a steering and driving devicewhich is fastened to one side of the hoop so that the point ofengagement between the steering and driving device and the hoop is moreor less fixed and cannot be shifted at will from the one to the otherside of the hoop while the latter rolls along the ground. Thus, theupwardly directed pull that can be I exerted by the steering and drivingdevice to propel the hoop in a forward direction will be one-sidedprovided, of course, that the hoop has not been provided with a discretesteering and driving device at each side thereof. Such a hoop cannot besteered and driven along arcuate paths the'conflguration of which theuser of the hoop can control because the position of the point ofengagement between the steering and driving device and the hoop cannotbe changed during driving at the will of the operator. The manipulationof the hoop is overly complicated if the latter is connected withseveral steering and driving devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved toy device which includes a hoop and enables the userto control the speed as well as the direction of travel of the hoop bymeans of a single steering and drivingdevice. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedcoupling between the hoop and the steering and driving means therefor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a versatile toydevice ofthe above outlined character which can be manipulated and enjoyed bychildren of all ages and both sexes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a toy deviceincluding a hoop which is simple, inexpensive, light-weight andinteresting to the user.

The improved toy device comprises a hoop which can roll along theground, a coupling element which is mounted for turning movement aboutthe hoop, abutment means provided on the hoop to restrict the movementof the coupling element in the circumferential direction of the hoop,and a single combined driving and steering device including a manuallyoperable elongated member one end of which is connected with thecoupling element, preferably in such a way that the end of the elongatedmember can swivel relative to the coupling element but shares allturning movements of the coupling element relative to the hoop.

The coupling element may constitute a ring which is rotatable on aselected portion of the hoop, and the combined steering and drivingdevice may comprise a rigidelongated member which can be held by handand a flexible elongated member, one end portion of which is connectedto the rigid elongated member and the other end portion of which isarticulately connected with a single portion of the coupling element.

The rigid elongated member can constitute a guide rod or stick and theflexible elongated member can be a cord or a string. The cord can beconnected with the coupling element in such amanner that its end canpivot about an axis which is tangential to the hoop.

The guide rod and the string can be used to turn the coupling element onthe hoop while the latter rolls along the ground so as to shift thepoint of connection between the cord and the coupling element from oneside of the hoop to the other side, or vice versa. Thus, a single rodand a single cord suffice to propel the hoop along the ground as Well asto change the direction of movement of the hoop.

If the coupling element is a ring, it is preferably recessed into thehoop so as to avoid bumpy runs while the hoop rolls along the ground. Tothis end, the hoop can be provided with a recess which is machined intoor otherwise formed in its peripheral surface to receive a portion ofthe ring-shaped coupling element. The aforementioned abutment means thenconstitutes the surfaces which flank the recess and hold the couplingelement against excessive movement in the circumferential direction ofthe hoop. The hoop may be formed with a second recess which is machinedinto or otherwise formed in its internal surface opposite the firstmentioned recess and also serves to receive a portion of the ring-shapedcoupling element. The recesses are large enough to allow forsubstantially unimpeded turning of the coupling element relative to thehoop whenever the user decides to shift the point of connection betweenthe coupling element and the cord from the one to the other side of thehoop or vice versa.

A bumpy run of the hoop can be avoided completely if the recess in theperipheral surface of the hoop is deep enough to completely accommodatethe corresponding portion of a ring-shaped] coupling element.

The point of connection between the string and a ring-shaped couplingelement should remain fixed. For example, a flexible eyelet can beinserted into an axially parallel hole of the ring-shaped couplingelement and the end of the cord can extend through the eyelet.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved toy device itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmode of operation together with additional features and advantagesthereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detaileddescription of certain specific embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of theencircled part A of the toy device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG.'2 is a sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from theline 2-2 of FIG. 1 and illustrates the position of a ring-shapedcoupling element as shown in the encircled part B of FIG. 7;

FIG. 3 is a similar sectional view but showing the position of thering-shaped coupling element as illustrated in the encircled part C ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the encircled part D of the toy deviceshown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of FIG. 1 and further shows a modifiedconnection between the coupling element and the cord;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the toy device in actual use, showing afirst stage when the user is about to accelerate the hoop;

FIG. 7 is a similar perspective view but showing a second stage when theuser is in a position to change the direction of travel of the hoop;

FIG. 8 is a similar perspective view of the toy device, showing theconnection between the cord and the coupling element at one side of thehoop; and

FIG. 9 is a similar perspective view but showing the hoop in a differentangular position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 6 to 9which illustrate different phases or stages of manipulation of the toydevice, it will be seen that one end portion of a guide rod or stick 11is connected with a hoop 12 by means of a string or cord 13 and aring-shaped coupling element 14 (hereinafter called ring). The ring 14is mounted for turning movement about the adjacent portion of the hoop12 which is provided with abutment means to restrict the movement orgliding of the ring 14 in the circumferential direction of the hoop. Theparts 11 and 13 respectively constitute a rigid or substantially rigidand a flexible member of a composite steering and driving device for thehoop 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4, the peripheral surface of the hoop 12 isformed with a transversely extending recess or groove 15 which canreceive the adjacent portion of the ring 14. A similar transverselyextending recess or groove 16 is provided in the internal surface of thehoop 12 opposite the recess 15 to receive the adjacent portion of thering 14, at least in certain angular positions of the hoop 12. Theaforementioned abutment means for the ring 14 includes the radiallyextending surfaces which flank the recesses 15 and 16.

The cross-sectional area of the hoop portion between the recesses 15, I6is selected in such a way that the ring 14 is free to turn on the hoop12 and that it has a certain freedom of movement in many otherdirections without being permitted to move entirely beyond the recess 15and/or 16, as considered in the circumferential direction of the hoop.In other words, a portion of the ring 14 invariably extends into atleast one of the recesses l5, 16 even though it is possible (see FIGS. 2or 3) to select the internal diameter of the ring 14 in such a way thatthe latter can leave the recess 15 while extending into the recess 16 orvice versa. The depth of the recess 15 preferably exceeds somewhat thewidth of the ring 14 (as considered in the radial direction thereof) toinsure that the ring 14 need not extend beyond the peripheral surface ofthe hoop when the recess I5 is adjacent to the ground. This reduces thelikelihood of hobbling of the hoop.

The cord 13 is tied to the ring 14 by means of the knot. As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the ring 14 is formed with an axially parallel hole 17through which the cord 13 extends. This hole enables the cord to pivotrelative to the ring 14 about an axis which is substantially tangentialto the hoop 12. If desired, one can employ an eyelet 18 (shown in FIG.5) which is inserted into the hole 17 of the ring 14 and is tied to theadjacent end of the cord 13 by means of a knot similar to the knot shownin FIGS. 1-4. The eyelet 18 preferably consists of flexible or elasticmaterial and is preferably pivotable in the hole 17 of the ring 14. Itwill be noted that the point of connection between the ring 14 and thecord 13 cannot travel in the circumferential direction of the ring,irrespective of whether the cord is tied directly to the ring 14 or isconnected to the ring by the eyelet 18.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate various phases in manipulation of the hoop 12. Thearrow P indicates the direction of rotation of the hoop while the latterrolls along the ground.

When the hoop l2 assumes the angular position shown in FIG. 6, theangular position of the ring 14 corresponds to that shown in FIG. 1. Thehole 17 of the ring 14 is located at the right-hand side of the hoop 12.By exerting upon the string 13 a pull in the direction indicated byarrow Q, i.e., by quickly lifting the guide rod 11, the operator impartsto the hoop 12 a driving momentum in the direction indicated by thearrow P. The.

pull simultaneously influences the direction of movement of the hoop 12;the hoop 12 is given a momentum in a direction to the left, and thismomentum increases with the pull upon the string 13. If the string 13 iskept taut, the ring 14 rotates about the hoop 12, so that its knot willbe located substantially in the central plane of the hoop 12 (FIG. 2).The portion of the ring 14 opposite the knob is now fully received inthe recess 16.

When the hoop l2 and the ring 14 assume the positions illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 7, the user can move the combined steering and drivingdevice l1, 13 back to the right-hand side of the hoop 12 with a shortswing of the cord 13 in a direction to the right or to the lefthand sideof the hoop 12 with a short swing of the cord 13 in a direction to theleft. The two lateral positions of the knox are indicated in FIG. 2 byphantom lines. The two possible lateral movements of the cord 13 areindicated by a double-headed arrow R.

If the user of the hoop 12 selects to move the steering and drivingdevice 11, I3 (and hence the knot) to the left-hand side of the hoop,the knot will remain in the left-hand side of the hoop as long as theuser relaxes the tension of the cord 13 (see FIGS. 3 and 8). When thering 14 reaches the ground (while the pull upon the string 13 isrelaxed), the ring is automatically caused to enter the recess 15 so asto insure smooth rolling of the hoop.

When the knot ascends after having reached its lowermost position inrelation to the ground (see FIG. 9); a pull can be exerted in thedirection indicated by arrow S while the device 11, 13 remains at theleft-hand side of the rolling hoop 12. This imparts to the hoop a freshdriving momentum and simultaneously tends to steer the hoop in adirection to the right with a force which is proportional to themagnitude of pull. Thus, and in order to insure that the hoop 12 willroll along a substantially straight path, the user must change theposition of the knot from the one to the other side of the hoop wheneverthe knot reaches the uppermost position shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. If thehoop 12 is to roll along a left-hand curve, the knot must be swung in adirection to the right whenever the ring 14 reaches the position shownin FIG. 7 and, if the hoop 12 is to make a sharp curve, the user shouldalso exert a relatively strong pull (arrow Q in FIG. 6) while the hole17 travels upwardly. The manipulation of the hoop 12 by way of thedevice 11, 13 is analogous if the hoop 12 is to make a right-hand curve.

It will be seen that, with relatively little skill which can be acquiredafter a short period of training, a male or female child can Steer thehoop 12 along a straight path or can cause the hoop to travel along amore complex path by the simple expedient of shifting the hole 17 fromthe one to the other side of the hoop and by exerting on the cord 13 apull of variable magnitude while the knot travels upwardly. The hoop 12can be driven at any desired speed, i.e., while the operator walks, jogsor runs.

The improved toy device is susceptible of many further modificationswithout departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, theillustrated hoop 12 of polygonal cross-sectional outline can be replacedwith a hoop having an oval or circular outline. If the cross section ofthe hoop is circular or oval, the recesses 15, 16 can be replaced with acircumferentially complete groove which receives the ring-shapedcoupling element 14 or an analogous coupling element. Also, andespecially if the coupling element is relatively thin, the justmentioned groove or the recesses l5, 16 can be omitted and the hoop canbe provided with outwardly extending abutment means (for example, on oneor both side faces thereof) to enable the coupling element to turn aboutthe hoop while simultaneously holding the coupling element againstmovement in and counter to the direction indicated by the arrow P.Thematerial of the hoop 12, coupling element 14 and/or rod 11 can be metal,plastic, wood or a combination of such materials. Furthermore, the partsll, 13 can be replaced with a one-piece driving and steering devicewhich may include a relatively rigid and a flexible or deformableportion. If desired, the hoop can be manipulated only by means of thecord 13. The coupling element 14 may be a split ring so as to be readilyconnectable to and separable from the hoop. The same applies for theeyeletl8 of FIG. 5.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,radily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of my contribution tothe art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. A toy device comprising a hoop arranged to roll along the ground; acoupling element mounted for turning movement about said hoop. said hoophaving abutment means for restricting the movement of said couplingelement in the circumferential direction of said hoop; and a combinedsteering and driving device including a manually operable elongatedflexible member having an end portion connected with said couplingelement for pivotal movement relative to said coupling element about anaxis which is substantially tangential to said hoop.

2. A toy device as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling element isa ring.

3. A toy device comprising a hoop arranged to roll along the ground andhaving an internal surface and a peripheral surface; a firsttransversely extending recess provided in said internal surface and asecond transversely extending recess provided in said peripheral surfaceopposite said first recess, said recesses bounded by additional surfacesflanking said recesses and constituting abutment means; a couplingelement mounted for turning movement about said hoop and engaging atleast one of said recesses so that movement of said coupling element isrestricted in circumferential direction of said hoop; and a combinedsteering and driving device including a manually operable elongatedmember connected with said coupling element.

4. A toy device as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexiblemember has a second end portion and said combined steering and drivingdevice further includes an elongated rigid member arranged to be held byhand and connected with said second end portion of said elongatedflexible member.

5. A toy device as defined in claim 4, wherein said elongated flexiblemember is a string or cord and said elongated rigid member is a rod orstick.

6. A toy device as defined in claim 1, wherein said hoop has at leastone transversely extending recess and surfaces flanking said recess,said coupling element having a portion extending into said recess andsaid surfaces constituting said abutment means for said couplingelement. r

7. A toy device as defined in claim 6, wherein said hoop has aperipheral surface and said recess is provided in said peripheralsurface thereof, the depth of said recess being sufficient to fullyaccommodate the adjacent portion of said coupling element so that saidcoupling element need not contact the ground during rolling of saidhoop.

8. A toy device asdefined in claim 1, wherein said hoop has a polygonalcross-sectional outline.

9. A toy device comprising a hoop arranged to roll along the ground; acoupling element mounted for turning movement about said hoop, said hoophaving abutment means for restricting the movement of said couplingelement in the circumferential direction of said hoop; and a combinedsteering and driving device including a manually operable elongatedmember having an end portion; an eyelet articulately connected with saidcoupling element and with said end portion of said elongated member ofsaid driving and steering device for connecting said end portion of saidmanually operable elongated member to said coupling member pivotablyabout an axis which is substantially tangential to said hoop.

10. A toy device as defined in claim 9, wherein said eyelet isdeformable.

11. A toy device comprising a hoop arranged to roll along the ground; aring-shaped coupling element hav ing a hole, and mounted for turningmovement about said hoop, said hoop having abutment means forrestricting the movement of said coupling element in the circumferentialdirection of said hoop; and a combined steering and driving deviceincluding a manually operable elongated flexible member having an endportion extending through said hole of said ring-shaped coupling elementand forming a knot which connects said elongated member to saidring-shaped coupling element.

1. A toy device comprising a hoop arranged to roll along the ground; acoupling element mounted for turning movement about said hoop, said hoophaving abutment means for restricting the movement of said couplingelement in the circumferential direction of said hoop; and a combinedsteering and driving device including a manually operable elongatedflexible member having an end portion connected with said couplingelement for pivotal movement relative to said coupling element about anaxis which is substantially tangential to said hoop.
 2. A toy device asdefined in claim 1, wherein said coupling element is a ring.
 3. A toydevice comprising a hoop arranged to roll along the ground and having aninternal surface and a peripheral surface; a first transverselyextending recess provided in said internal surface and a secondtransversely extending recess provided in said peripheral surfaceopposite said first recess, said recesses bounded by additional surfacesflanking said recesses and constituting abutment means; a couplingelement mounted for turning movement about said hoop and engaging atleast one of said recesses so that movement of said coupling element isrestricted in circumferential direction of said hoop; and a combinedsteering and driving device including a manually operable elongatedmember connected with said coupling element.
 4. A toy device as definedin claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible member has a second endportion and said combined steering and driving device further includesan elongated rigid member arranged to be held by hand and connected withsaid second end portion of said elongated flexible member.
 5. A toydevice as defined in claim 4, wherein said elongated flexible member isa string or cord and said elongated rigid member is a rod or stick.
 6. Atoy device as defined in claim 1, wherein said hoop has at least onetransversely extending recess and surfaces flanking said recess, saidcoupling element having a portion extending into said recess and saidsurfaces constituting said abutment means for said coupling element. 7.A toy device as defined in claim 6, wherein said hoop has a peripheralsurface and said recess is provided in said peripheral surface thereof,the depth of said recess being sufficient to fully accommodate theadjacent portion of said coupling element so that said coupling elementneed not contact the ground during rolling of said hoop.
 8. A toy deviceas defined in claim 1, wherein said hoop has a polygonal cross-sectionaloutline.
 9. A toy device comprising a hoop arranged to roll along theground; a coupling element mounted for turning movement about said hoop,said hoop having abutment means for restricting the movement of saidcoupling element in the circumferential direction of said hoop; and acombined steering and driving device including a manually operableelongated member haVing an end portion; an eyelet articulately connectedwith said coupling element and with said end portion of said elongatedmember of said driving and steering device for connecting said endportion of said manually operable elongated member to said couplingmember pivotably about an axis which is substantially tangential to saidhoop.
 10. A toy device as defined in claim 9, wherein said eyelet isdeformable.
 11. A toy device comprising a hoop arranged to roll alongthe ground; a ring-shaped coupling element having a hole, and mountedfor turning movement about said hoop, said hoop having abutment meansfor restricting the movement of said coupling element in thecircumferential direction of said hoop; and a combined steering anddriving device including a manually operable elongated flexible memberhaving an end portion extending through said hole of said ring-shapedcoupling element and forming a knot which connects said elongated memberto said ring-shaped coupling element.